New Orleans Pelicans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Preview, Picks and Prediction, Sunday, November 2, 2025
Use Code SSWC We have a winless team versus an unbeaten in the NBA on Sunday, so be sure to check in with our Pelicans vs. Thunder predictions to see who has the upper hand. New Orleans (0-5 SU, 1-3-1 ATS) fell just shy against the Clippers on Halloween, losing 126-124 as +11 underdogs on the road. OKC (6-0 SU, 2-4 ATS) handled Washington with relative ease on Thursday, winning 127-108 at home as -15.5 favorites. Tipoff from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is scheduled for 3:30 EST. Need some more winners? Check out our NBA Predictions and beat the books!
Pelicans getting closer to win column
The Pelicans came as close as they’ve been all season to a win in their two-point loss against the Clippers on Friday. They are the lone winless team in the Western Conference and one of three overall.
New Orleans comes into this game as the second-lowest scoring team in the game, averaging just 108 points a night. They are shooting 41.8% from the field and knocking down 10.8 threes per game. They turn the ball over 13.6 times, on average, and their 1.56 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 24th overall. Zion Williamson scored a season-high 29 points against the Clippers. The forward leads the team with 23.5 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field, and 4.2 assists a night. Jordan Poole is second on the team with 19.8 points per game but is shooting 40.5% overall.
The team hasn’t fared much better on the defensive side, ranking 26th in the NBA, allowing 123.6 points per game. Opponents are shooting 50% from the field and average 14.2 three-pointers against them each game. Down low, the Pelicans are grabbing 41.2 rebounds per game and have a -7.7-rebound differential. The defense is forcing 14.4 turnovers from their opponents while averaging 8,.8 steals and 2.8 blocks per game. Williamson leads the team with 2.3 steals a night, tied for fourth in the league. Trey Murphy III is leading the Pelicans with 6.8 rebounds per game.
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Team notes
- Williamson turns the ball over 3.3 times a night, tied for 11th most in the league.
- Poole’s 8.8 three-point attempts each game are the eighth most in the NBA.
- The Pelicans struggle coming out of the half, averaging a league-low 20.8 points in the fourth quarter.
- They get 20.7% of their points from free throws, fifth in the league.
Thunder with a full head of steam
There have been zero hangover effects from last season’s championship run for the Thunder, who look poised to charge for another. They are one of two unbeaten teams in the Western Conference and one of three in the league.
Oklahoma City is sitting 11th in the league in terms of scoring, averaging 119.7 points per game. From the field, they are shooting 45.5% while averaging 12.2 three-pointers per game. They are coughing up 16.5 turnovers per game but still rank fifth in the league with a 2.01 assist-to-turnover ratio. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the team in scoring five of six times and has scored over 30 points four times this season. He is third in the league in scoring, averaging 34.2 points per game and he’s dishing out a team-high 5.7 assists per game. Chet Holmgren is second on the team with 23 points per game on 56.9% shooting from the field, the 24th-best mark in the league.
Defensively, the Thunder are holding opponents to 110.3 points per game, the third-best scoring defense in the NBA. Teams are shooting 42.5% from the field against them and averaging 13.2 threes per game. OKC owns a +1.6-rebound differential thanks to their 49 rebounds per game, fourth-best average in the league. Their 10.5 steals are the third most in the league, and they have blocked 5.3 shots a night while coaxing 16.5 turnovers per game from teams. Isaiah Hartenstein leads the team and is seventh in the league with 11 rebounds per game. Holmgren is grabbing 10.3 a night.
Team notes
- The team announced that Jalen Williams, who has missed the entire season with a wrist injury, will be re-evaluated in 10-14 days.
- Chet Holmgren missed the last two games due to a back injury and is questionable for this matchup.
- The Thunder are third in the league, shooting 85.6% from the free-throw line.
- They are scoring only 13.2 points per game on the fastbreak, 25th in the league.
Pelicans vs. OKC Thunder Picks
Spread Pick for Pelicans vs. Thunder
- Thunder -11.5 (5 units)
These two met four times last season and it was all Thunder as they were 4-0 SU and ATS with an average margin of victory of 19.8 points per game. Obviously, these two teams are headed in completely different directions, but that is nothing new. OKC has built themselves into a viable championship winner and contender for the near future. New Orleans continues to be a directionless franchise. The Thunder have looked every bit the defending champs, getting stronger each time out while doing so. Gilgeous-Alexander helps keep the offense in check and well-balanced, and they have plenty of big bodies clogging the lane. New Orleans doesn’t have a true leader. Williamson lacks any quality pieces around him, among other things, to become what the team needs him to be. They don’t stand a chance here. Oklahoma City is 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS in their last ten games against the Pelicans.
Take the Thunder.
Over/Under Pick for Pelicans vs. Thunder
- Under 229.5 (5 units)
In four meetings last season, these two teams averaged a combined 218.8 points per game, splitting against the total, 2-2. The Thunder rank 11th in scoring, so while good, they aren’t pouring in tons of points each night. They have scored 117 points or less in three of their last four games. The Pelicans are one of the worst scoring teams in the game, having been held to 90 points or less in two games thus far. In terms of pace, these two rank in the bottom third of the league. New Orleans is 24th, averaging 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and Oklahoma City is 27th with an average of 98 possessions per 48 minutes. The under is 4-2 in the last six games between these two teams.
Take the under.
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